NCBFAA Customs Committee Spotlight: 2025 Challenges, 2026 Opportunities & The Power of Community

Lalo Solorzano

Sandra (Sandy) Coty — Customs Committee Co-Chair

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Mary Jo Muoio — Chair Emeritus

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Ralph De La Rosa — Customs Committee Co-Chair

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Lenny Feldman — Customs Committee Counsel

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December 3, 2025

Approx. 44 min.

Global Training Center — Website

In this special collaborative episode with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), Simply Trade highlights one of the organization’s most active and influential groups: the Customs Committee.

Host Lalo Solorzano is joined by committee co-chairs Sandy Coty and Ralph De La Rosa, alongside Mary Jo Muoio (Chair Emeritus) and counsel Lenny Feldman. Together, they unpack a highly dynamic 2025 driven by court cases, tariff unpredictability, modernization initiatives, and the ever-increasing complexity of trade policy.

This episode reveals what the Customs Committee does, how it supports the entire brokerage community, and why their work is essential for businesses of all sizes. From interpreting executive orders, to producing toolkits, to being the “eye of the storm” during regulatory upheaval — this group ensures brokers stay informed, compliant, and ready for whatever comes next.

The guests also look ahead to 2026, sharing expectations around tariff changes, new trade “deals,” evolving technology, and the crucial role of customs brokers as the industry continues to transform.

The committee’s primary mission is to provide clarity for NCBFAA members on anything related to CBP, trade policy, or customs requirements. This includes:

Webinars, toolkits, and e-briefings

Monday morning updates (now almost daily due to rapid change)

Direct member support for complex questions

Coordinated outreach to CBP, Treasury, USTR, and other agencies

Flowcharts, FAQs, and practical guides to help brokers execute requirements accurately

The group acts as a force multiplier, ensuring that one broker’s question becomes clarity for all.

Sandy highlights several “first downs” toward long-sought industry improvements:

Revenue modernization progress tied to the federal executive order

Duty payment flexibility, including paying duties at any port in certain situations

10-day extensions for trade remedy-related entry rejections

Improved ACE reports, including inbound, AD/CVD certifications, and low-hanging but highly useful enhancements

Ralph notes additional recognition for NCBFAA this year:

Sandy and another committee member were appointed to COAC

CBP is increasingly seeking NCBFAA’s input due to the committee’s credibility and expertise

Mary Jo emphasizes the committee’s role as a stabilizing force:

They provide institutional knowledge during times that feel overwhelming

They help members understand complex topics like tariff stacking, enforcement spikes, and Supreme Court review scenarios

They translate shifting rules into actionable guidance

They ensure that small brokers have the same insight as large brokers

The committee helps the industry “act like we’ve been here before,” even when the environment is unprecedented.

Lenny breaks down what’s at stake:

Whether Section 301/IEEPA tariffs remain valid

Whether tariff authority is properly delegated

Whether changes will apply prospectively or retroactively

How brokers should handle refunds, protests, or revenue collection depending on outcomes

His analogy:

Regardless of the ruling, the committee will deliver:

Updated tools

New flowcharts

Best-practice guidance

Member education sessions

A recurring theme: NCBFAA levels the playing field.

Ralph shares examples:

The AD/CVD certification toolkit

Harp/Nice Harmonized Tariff Schedule sequencing toolkit

Penalty and liquidated damages working groups

Center of Excellence and Expertise outreach calls

Direct lines of communication to CBP

A small broker becomes instantly connected to subject-matter experts, best practices, and national discussions — a major competitive advantage.

Panelists expect:

New forms of tariff collection

Faster, deal-based trade agreements

Increased use of AI and machine learning in compliance and enforcement

More de minimis-related shifts into formal/informal entry channels

Technology-driven expectations for brokers

Greater pressure on revenue collection

Higher need for accurate guidance, FAQs, and toolkits

The brokerage role continues evolving — from “customs house broker” to customs concierge.

NCBFAA’s Customs Committee is an unmatched resource for practical, real-world customs compliance guidance.

Even small brokers gain expert-level insight and decision support by being part of the community.

The association provides stability during rapid regulatory change.

The industry will continue evolving quickly — and NCBFAA helps members stay ahead, not behind.

Involvement (even at the local level) returns far more value than it requires.

Brokers, attorneys, carriers, and service providers all benefit from engagement.

All references below include embedded official links.

NCBFAA — ncbfaa.org

NCBFAA Customs Committee — via membership resources

COAC (CBP Advisory Committee) — CBP COAC Page

U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) — cbp.gov

U.S. Treasury Department — home.treasury.gov

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) — ustr.gov

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — dhs.gov

Department of Commerce — commerce.gov

IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) — Congress.gov Overview

Section 301 / Trade Remedies — USTR 301 Overview

Tariff Schedules (HTSUS) — HTS Search

ACE Reporting — CBP ACE Portal

AD/CVD (Antidumping & Countervailing Duties) — CBP AD/CVD Info

De Minimis / Section 321 — CBP Section 321

Federal Register Notices — federalregister.gov

Forced Labor Enforcement — CBP Forced Labor

AI in Trade Modernization — CBP Innovation Initiatives via CBP Trade Newsroom

Host:

Guests:

Sandra (Sandy) Coty — LinkedIn

Mary Jo Muoio — LinkedIn

Ralph De La Rosa — LinkedIn

Lenny Feldman — LinkedIn

Presented by:

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